Sanyo will soon begin shipping an induction cooktop range that features voice navigation and downloadable ringtones that let you know when dinner is done.

The range is not exactly one of those Internet-connected appliances we've been hearing so much about—it works via old-fashioned infrared, where you download sounds from the Internet via cellphone and then transmit them to the range with infrared. The talkative stove can also function as a coach for aspiring chefs, reading out recipes and cooking instructions. And, with its voice navigation, this is one kitchen assistant that will follow your orders. Now you have something to yell at if you burn that roast again.